23Aug11

Crude Western interests in Libya

The fight is not over in Tripoli, but the carve-up of Libya's vast oil riches - the biggest in
Africa - is already beginning and no doubt the process will not come cheaply for the Libyan
people.

-The Italian Foreign Minister fired the starting gun, saying Italy's ENI oil company will play
the number-one role in the region.

British PM David Cameron already delivered a promise, seen by many as more of a threat, that
the NATO mission in Libya, which is “to protect civilians,” will continue for “as long as it is
needed” to ensure a safe transition to democracy.

As allied forces lend air support to the rebels to take Tripoli, the Stop the War Coalition warns
Libyans not to expect that they are getting something for nothing.

“The Western powers do not do this without asking for a payback. Why is it that the head
TNC [Transitional National Council] is running off to Paris to meet with the French
President?” questions John Rees from the Stop the War Coalition. “Well of course that is one
very important issue that was why the Western powers and Tony Blair and others struck a
deal with Gaddafi in the first place. It will be exactly what they're seeking to continue with
the TNC to further exploit those oil riches.”

The British government makes no secret of the fact that its motives in supporting the rebels
are not entirely altruistic. Last year alone the UK exported around US$40 billion worth of
goods and services to North Africa and the Middle East.

But “black gold” is the key – Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa.

“When Western powers look at the region, they talk about humanity and democracy, but
they’re thinking about oil,” reveals Greg Muttitt, War on Want campaigns and policy director.

Muttitt says it is impossible not to draw a comparison with Iraq. He has written a book about
the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, in which he maintains Western powers imposed a
democracy which played on sectarian divisions. That ensured years of tribal struggle, but
meant the allies retained control of the oil supply. While the UK government insists lessons
have been learnt from Iraq, Western oil firms are moving into Libya.

Even before the fate of Tripoli is sealed, the great oil grab is already beginning. BP has a
contentious oil and gas exploration contract in Libya, which the UK government will be
anxious for it to resume. Italian oil giant ENI is the first to send staff back to Libya, and its
shares rose on the news. France’s Total and Austria’s OMV also did well as investors hoped
they would soon be able to resume production in Libya. But at what price to the Libyan
people?

[Source: RT Novosti, Moscow, 23Aug11]

This document has been published on 25Aug11 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with
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